The reasons for the presence of black or dark spots on your lips could be many. However one of the most common reasons for the discoloration of lips is smoking. Studies have shown that some brands of toothpaste as well as some types of lip medication are responsible for the discoloration of the lips. Hormonal discrepancies as well as an upsurge in the levels of iron in the body are also known to be some of the causes attributed to this skin condition. In some cases, biting of lips, licking of lips, lack of vitamin B and poorly fitted dentures can also lead to the symptoms that you have mentioned. There is a possibility, albeit a bit rare that this could be a fungal or bacterial infection.
There is a possibility that the discoloration has been cause due to a high intake of tea, coffee or excessive smoking in which case you will need to reduce your intake of caffeinated beverages to enable a reduction in the discoloration. Discontinue sucking the lips as the saliva dries out the lips worsening the situation. It is also highly recommended to keep the lips moisturized and soft at all times. Cold Creams and even clarified butter are believed to be effective in keeping the lips moisturized. Lips can get dry and rough due to excessive exposure to the sun. In extreme cases reddish stains or whitish filmy appearance could point to the possibility of malignancy in the future. The effects of over exposure to the sun can be reduced by applying a cream with sufficient sunscreen protection and by covering the face with an appropriate cap. A deficiency in vitamin B is also known to be a reason for dark pigmentation in the lips. This can be easily tackled by including vitamin B supplement in your diet.
Lemon juice has natural bleaching properties and can be applied on the lips to reduce the discoloration. A mixture of honey and lemon juice applied to the lips before bedtime is known to be very helpful. Do ensure that you drink about two to three liters of water every day to ensure that the body and specially the lips are well hydrated. A healthy diet, rich in green vegetables and fresh fruit is very important. Spicy foodstuff should be particularly avoided. Also avoid eating food that is very hot – allow it to cool before eating.
If the condition persists after weeks of medication, then perhaps a visit to a dermatologist or a skin specialist is highly advisable. This will enable the doctor to rule out any medical causes for your symptoms.